Child pornography and sexual abuse is gradually gripping Arizona stronger than ever.

Just recently, a Peoria man was arrested by Maricopa County authorities for allegedly sharing child pornography online.

40-year-old Stephen J. Austin is being held on $25,000 bond on suspicion of 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Austin was arrested from his home at the 79th Avenue and Thunderbird Road early Monday morning. He appeared before the court on Tuesday.

Sheriff's detective produced an internet protocol address linked to a user sharing more than 100 files of child porn over a peer-to-peer network in the court.

Acquiring a subpoena for the suspect's I.P. address, investigators searched Austin's home and extracted several hundred child pornography images and videos from his laptop and on an external hard drive from his bedroom.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury